Latest news with #MaritimeIndiaVision2030
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Redesign low height bridges across rivers to facilitate shipbuilding, says Shipyards Association
Advt Advt Impediment to smooth operations By , ETInfra Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals. Subscribe to Newsletter to get latest insights & analysis in your inbox. Get updates on your preferred social platform Follow us for the latest news, insider access to events and more. The planned construction of a new Borim Bridge across the Zuari River in Goa with reduced height of 14 meters from High Tide Level (HTL) will adversely impact shipbuilding activities in Goa, a private shipyards body has said while urging the government to redesign and construct the new bridge with a height of more than 16 meters from Goa government's plan to construction a new Borim Bridge with a proposed height of 14 meters from HTL will create severe constraints for safe navigation and vessels crossing the bridge, according to the Shipyards Association of India , a group of private shipbuilders.'Given the natural river bend and restricted narrow river width near the old bridge, passing through the existing bridge having a height of 16 meters is already a challenge. A further reduction in height will make it even more difficult and tedious for vessels to cross,' Sanjiv Walia, Advisor, Shipyards Association of India, wrote in a letter to T K Ramachandran, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and in Goa, including Chowgule Shipbuilding Division, carefully plan their operations around the lowest tide timings to navigate safely under the existing Borim Bridge.'If the new bridge is constructed at a reduced height of 14 meters from HTL, it will have adverse impact on shipbuilding activities and future plans of shipyards in Goa. The reduced height will be inadequate for safe under-bridge navigation, and bigger vessels being constructed will not be able to cross the bridge,' Walia pointed to the Shipyards Association of India, redesigning and constructing the new Borim Bridge with a height of more than 16 meters from HTL is critical given the importance of the shipbuilding industry and the ambitious expansion plans of shipyards in will ensure safe navigation and bridge crossing for vessels, enabling shipyards to continue their operations without hindrance and contribute to the growth of India's maritime sector, SAI said, noting that the exponential growth of industrial activities in the South Goa belt will lead to increased vessel movements through the bridge, which should be taken into consideration while designing and constructing the new Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has been promoting the growth of the shipbuilding sector in line with the Maritime India Vision 2030 and the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision the construction of low height bridges over rivers has become a significant impediment to the smooth operation of inland waterways transportation and shipbuilding activities in many coastal states.'Aligned with the government's focus on building a robust maritime ecosystem that supports shipbuilding infrastructure growth, the member shipyards of SAI are committed to investing in shipbuilding and are acquiring new shipyards in the hinterland that would increase the size of the vessels and enhance the capacity to build more vessels. However, the ongoing construction of low height bridges in the coastal states is one of the major issues being faced by many shipyards,' Walia pointed Shipyards Association lauded the Ministry's efforts in coordinating with various state governments and issuing directives based on their representation.'The prompt action taken by the Karnataka government to redesign the bridge over the Netravati River is a positive step. A similar consideration must be given to the issue of the new Borim Bridge in Goa,' Walia Shipyards Association also emphasized the need to carry out extensive dredging across the entire river stretch and removal of existing fishing posts that may be restricting the navigational channel.'This will further facilitate safe navigation and efficient shipbuilding operations,' Walia said, while calling on the Ministry to issue directives to the Goa government for immediate action to help foster the shipbuilding the Association said that construction of higher bridges or alternative bridges such as openable bridges or pontoon bridges must be encouraged to facilitate smooth navigation of inland vessels/ bigger vessels and enhance connectivity in the Centre should provide financial incentives/support to the state governments for constructing bigger height bridges to prioritise shipping interests through the Sagarmala/Gati Shakti schemes, which in turn will facilitate shipbuilding yards to grow, Walia added.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
India's new Coastal Shipping Bill gets Rajya Sabha nod
Advt Advt By , ETInfra Indian flag ships will be freed from the requirement of securing a general trading license from the Directorate General of Shipping for operating along the country's coast while foreign flag ships chartered by Indian citizens or by any other entity and taken to sea from a port or place within or outside India would need a license under a new Coastal Shipping Bill passed by Rajya Sabha on Bill has already been passed by the Lok Sabha Currently, Indian flag as well foreign flag vessels (chartered by an Indian citizen or company or society) require licence for Coastal Shipping Bill has been carved out of Part 14 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 to help the government make focussed policy decisions and give impetus to coastal shipping.'The Coastal Shipping Bill is a radical step towards achieving the targets set out in the Maritime India Vision 2030 and the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 for increasing the modal share of coastal cargo which would help in drastically reducing logistic cost, pollution and congestion,' said Sarbananda Sonowal , Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.'The Coastal Shipping Bill will focus on domestic commercial and trade aspects of coastal shipping in India,' Sonowal Bill seeks to do away with the requirement of a general trading license for Indian flag ships to enable ease of doing business for Indian vessels and reduce compliance burden, a government official said.'The aim of this provision is to allow Indian entrepreneurs (who may not be able to own or purchase a vessel), to hire a vessel and operate. It also seeks to facilitate availability of a greater number of vessels for trade by Indian entities,' the official foreign flag vessel that engages in the coasting trade of India (whether directly or by way of chartering) would be required to obtain a licence from the Director General of Shipping. The licences granted to foreign flag vessels could be of different categories and Indian flag as well as foreign flag mechanically propelled vessels (chartered by an Indian citizen or company or society) require licence for trading.'Once the Coastal Shipping Bill is signed into law, Indian flag vessels will not be required to take a licence. Foreign flag vessels, whether mechanically propelled or non-mechanically propelled, will be allowed to participate in the coasting as well as export-import (EXIM) trade after taking a license for ease of business and make more number of vessels available for trade,' the official Bill seeks to update the regulation of vessels engaged in coastal trade and to remove the restrictive conditions on foreign flag vessels such as foreign flagged non-propelled vessels (mobile offshore drilling units or MODUs and barges) to enhance competition, efficiency and availability in the the Bill allows the Director General of Shipping to impose conditions on foreign vessels while issuing licenses. These conditions may include nationality requirements for the crew of each foreign flag vessel that is granted a licence, requirements for the whole or part of such foreign vessel to be built in India, etc.'The nationality requirement for seafarers will promote employment of Indian seafarers while the vessel is operating under Indian licence whereas the built requirement will promote ship building in India,' the official Bill also provides the criteria for grant of license to foreign flag vessels, including the availability of Indian vessels, the compliance record of the foreign flag vessel and other factors that the Director General of Shipping may determine as Bill provides for imposition of fines that have been updated per current international standards and ensures deterrence through imposition of ad valorem violation of Section 406 or 407 and other provisions of Part XIV of M S Act attracts imprisonment of six months or fine which may extend to one thousand rupees or both.'Similar punishment of imprisonment has been kept in the Bill for serious offences such as operation of foreign vessels without licence. However, the penalty amount has been increased to ₹15 lakh or four times the value of payment received by the owner or charterer, whichever is higher, and the vessel shall also be liable for detention,' the official operation of foreign vessels in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is a serious offence and hence the same punishment of imprisonment has been kept in the Bill. Imprisonment is there only for limited offences. There are various clauses wherein only monetary penalty can be imposed i.e. no new statute will ensure the identity of foreign flag vessels in India's Exclusive Economic Zone for ascertaining their scope of work and other factors which may affect India's safety, security, environment and other coastal shipping related interests.'By freeing Indian flag ships from licensing requirements, the government is making India an attractive destination for foreign fleet owners to set up shop and register ships locally to take advantage of the right of first refusal for carrying state-owned cargo as well as EXIM cargo,' the official added, noting that 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) is allowed in shipping. Besides, Indian flag ships are covered by the tonnage tax regime – a tax based on the cargo carrying capacity of ships as opposed to the corporate tax 100 per cent FDI in shipping has not been a success so far due to the complex regulatory landscape and an unfriendly operating Bill also envisages the development of a plan for the seamless integration of inland waterway routes with coastal transport. The aim is to enable more transportation of goods via water-based modes of transport, from inland waterways to coastal shipping Bill also seeks to set up a committee to formulate the National Coastal and Inland Shipping Strategic Plan.A separate legislation for coastal shipping was considered necessary to tap the huge potential of this mode of transport which is not only cheaper than other modes but also has the capability to reduce logistic costs coastal shipping has grown by some 133 per cent between 2015 and 2024 from 74 million tonnes (mt) to 172.5 mt, according to government to Sonowal, the Coastal Shipping Bill will promote transparency and easy access to information for facilitation of coasting trade by the development of a database for coastal shipping which will provide visibility for investment in the the Bill creates a statutory obligation for development of strategic plan for integration and for development of a database for coastal shipping for improvement of coastal shipping based on data assessment, leading to easier and expedited processes for distinct budgetary allocations in the future for promotion of the coastal shipping sector or introduction of other policy interventions, Sonowal added.
Time of India
02-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Cargo trial on Kopili marks marks revival of river transport in Assam
Guwahati: Operationalisation of National Waterways-57 through a cargo trial on Saturday marked the resumption of intra-state waterborne freight transport in Assam. A significant advancement in reviving the state's river-based commerce and sustainable logistics occurred when NW-57 (Kopili river) commenced operations with its inaugural cargo trial from Govardhan Bridge in Chandrapur, Kamrup to Hatsingimari in South Salmara. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The vessel MV VV Giri, featuring self-loading capabilities, transported 300 metric tonnes of cement across the 300-kilometre route on NW-57 and the Brahmaputra, completing the journey in approximately 12 to 14 hours. Union minister for ports, shipping and waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal said this development made over 1168 kms of national waterways in Assam operational. "This is a watershed moment for Assam. With the operationalisation of NW-57 on Kopili, we are not only reviving a lost artery of trade within the state, but also taking a major step towards building an inland water transport system that is economical, efficient, and environmentally sustainable. For far too long, the rich inter-web of riverine transportation remained neglected post-independence," Sonowal added. This inaugural cargo trial movement on the 46-kms-long NW-57 since 2014 represents a significant milestone in reviving intra-state cargo through Assam's river systems, officials said. The route's operationalisation aligns with the Maritime India Vision 2030 and PM Gati Shakti's objectives of establishing sustainable, integrated, and efficient transport infrastructure nationwide. "Today, with the resumption of cargo movement on four national waterways of Assam — Brahmaputra (NW-2), Barak (NW-16), Dhansiri (NW-31) & Kopili (NW-57) — we have made 1168 kms of waterways operational, offering a reasonable, economic and effective alternative mode of transportation," Sonowal said, adding that this would reduce road congestion and create economic opportunities for the state's riverine communities. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Under the leadership of PM Modi, the govt of India has placed a strong focus on revitalising our inland waterways to create multimodal logistics corridors. Assam is an important state in this regard as IWAI, the nodal agency of our ministry, is working on multiple projects to unlock value across our river ways," Sonowal said. From Brahmaputra to Barak, from Dhansiri to Kopili, Sonowal added that this initiative would strengthen regional growth through enhanced inland waterways. "Reviving waterways like the Kopili is a direct contribution to Modiji's vision of a thriving and self-reliant northeast," Sarbananda added. He highlighted the practical benefits, stating, "By shifting freight movement from road to waterways, we reduce emissions, ease road congestion, and lower logistics costs — all while making better use of our natural resources. Today's trial run replaces roughly 23 truckloads of cement — that's the power and potential of inland water transport." Sonowal said the Kopili cargo movement represents modern Assam's progress. "We are determined to build on this success and scale up cargo and passenger movement across all our major rivers. Waterways are not just a mode of transport; they are the arteries of regional prosperity," he added.
Time of India
02-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Indian maritime sector undergoing transformation as champion of climate resilience: Sonowal
Live Events TUTICORIN: The Indian maritime sector is undergoing a remarkable transformation, not merely as a gateway for commerce but also as a champion of climate resilience and environmental stewardship, Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on an event organised by V.O. Chidambaranan Port Authority, Sonowal further said guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious Maritime India Vision 2030 , the country's ports are embracing sustainable practices speaking on the occasion, Shipping Secretary T K Ramachandran said, "We need to develop experience with handling green hydrogen and associated technologies."VOC Port chairman Sushanta Kumar Purohit said: "We aim to build momentum, raise awareness and foster collaborations that will save India's maritime future."Purohit added that sustainability is a shared mission."Today it's not just an event, it is coming together of ideas, sharing of knowledge and a collective commitment to shaping a maritime future that is sustainable," he his inaugural address, Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) chairman Vijay Kumar emphasised the need for sustainability in India's maritime further said to realise India's 2070 net-zero target, the NAVIC Cell of the Ministry is coordinating various efforts to create environmentally friendly inland waterways across India in a comprehensive manner.
Hans India
02-08-2025
- Business
- Hans India
India doubles down on shipbuilding to become global maritime power
New Delhi: The shipbuilding industry in India is undergoing a transformational shift, as the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi accelerates efforts to build a world-class maritime ecosystem, according to Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. In line with the Maritime India Vision 2030 and the long-term strategic roadmap of Amrit Kaal, the Union Budget 2025 has announced a series of reforms and investments aimed at significantly enhancing the capacity and competitiveness of Indian shipyards. 'These initiatives are expected to strengthen India's position as an emerging global maritime power,' Sonowal said at the ongoing monsoon session of the Lok Sabha. Highlighting the government's commitment, Sonowal underlined the 'Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy which is being revamped to address cost disadvantages,' thereby helping Indian shipyards compete on equal footing with their international counterparts. The inclusion of credit notes for ship breaking in Indian yards reinforces the push towards a circular and sustainable maritime economy. To boost infrastructure financing, large ships above a specified size will now be classified under the Infrastructure Harmonised Master List, making them eligible for long-term, low-interest funding. Simultaneously, the government will facilitate the development of integrated shipbuilding clusters, equipped with modern infrastructure, skill development centres, and advanced technologies. This, the Budget notes, is aimed at 'increasing the range, categories and capacity of ships' built in India. In a landmark move to address the industry's need for long-term capital, the government has proposed a Rs 25,000 crore Maritime Development Fund, with up to 49 per cent government contribution. This fund will mobilise private and port-led investments to expand and modernise India's shipbuilding and repair capabilities. Recognising the long gestation nature of the industry, tax exemptions on Basic Customs Duty (BCD) for raw materials and components used in shipbuilding and ship-breaking have been extended for another 10 years. 'Our commitment to empower and enable our maritime sector is absolute and it is with this intent we are working under the dynamic leadership of PM Modi,' said Sonowal. To give Indian shipbuilders a competitive edge in public procurement, the government has extended the Right of First Refusal (ROFR) for tenders floated by public sector units. As per the Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order 2017, vessels valued under Rs 200 crore must be procured from Indian yards, thereby reinforcing the goal of self-reliance in maritime assets. On the ship repair front, Cochin Shipyard Limited has inaugurated a Rs 970 crore International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF) in Kochi.
